Ny Yankees Yankees vs La Dodgers Dodgers Picks and Predictions June 7th 2024

Yankees Await Word on Juan Soto Ahead of Series vs. Dodgers

The last time the Los Angeles Dodgers visited Yankee Stadium was back in September 2016, when Aaron Judge was a month into his career and Shohei Ohtani was a star for the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan.

Nearly eight years later, Judge and Ohtani will be among the stars on the field Friday night when the Yankees host the Dodgers in the opener of a highly anticipated three-game series.

Aaron Boone, manager of New York, stated, “I think it’s going to be an amazing atmosphere.” It’s been truly cool going to Dodger Arena seeing this matchup and the buzz around it. I would envision being all of that and perhaps more is going. I would anticipate a pretty unique setting.”

Historical Context

The Dodgers are visiting the Bronx for the first time since Sept. 12-14, 2016. Since then, the Yankees visited Los Angeles from Aug. 23-25, 2019, and June 2-4, 2023.

After drawing two walks and scoring twice in New York’s 8-5 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Thursday, Judge enters the series with a 32-game hitting streak. Judge’s most recent commitments assisted the Yankees with dominating an eighth consecutive match, however the group’s positive sentiments were lessened by Juan Soto passing on ahead of schedule because of left lower arm uneasiness.

Juan Soto’s Injury Update

Soto, who has played in every game, was taken out during a rain delay between the fifth and sixth innings. His MRI exam is scheduled for Friday. The Yankees were not overly worried about Soto’s arm discomfort, which has been ongoing for approximately one week.

Ohtani’s Performance Against the Yankees

Ohtani is a .218 hitter with nine homers and 17 RBIs in 23 games against the Yankees. At Yankee Stadium, he is hitting 6-for-46 (.130) with four homers and seven RBIs in 13 games.

Ohtani made his previous appearances against the Yankees for the Los Angeles Angels. He is hitting .318 with 15 homers and 40 RBIs through 61 games in his first season with the Dodgers.

Boone stated, “It’s just so much power and speed to watch him run.” It is a pretty special combination to watch the stretch and torque he generates at the plate, as well as the massive power he generates.

Dodgers’ Recent Form

The Dodgers are 6-3 in their beyond nine games following a five-game long string of failures May 21-26. They overcame three mistakes in an 11-7 victory in Pittsburgh on Thursday to save the series finale. Teoscar Hernandez, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman all hit home runs, and Ohtani went 7-for-19 with seven RBIs.

“We know it’s going to be a great atmosphere,” said Betts, who is visiting Yankee Stadium for the first time since August 2019 in his final season for the Boston Red Sox. “They’re going to come ready to play.”

Pitching Matchup

Yoshinobu Yamamoto (6-2, 3.32 ERA), Los Angeles’ scheduled opener starter, adds to the suspense. Before Yamamoto signed with the Dodgers, the Yankees pursued him during the offseason. In five of his 12 starts, the right-hander has only given up one run or none at all. On Saturday, he gave up one run in six innings in a win over the Colorado Rockies.

New York’s Cody Poteet (2-0, 2.45 ERA), who starred at UCLA before beginning his pro career as a fourth-round pick of the Miami Marlins in 2015, makes his third start of the season and second filling in for the injured Clarke Schmidt.

Poteet made his season debut in a doubleheader at Cleveland on April 13, when he tossed six innings of one-run ball. He allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits in five innings during a 7-3 win at San Francisco on Saturday.

Key Players to Watch

• Aaron Judge: Continuing his on-base streak, Judge remains a critical offensive force for the Yankees.
• Juan Soto: His status remains uncertain due to forearm discomfort, with an MRI scheduled.
• Shohei Ohtani: A standout for the Dodgers, his performance against the Yankees will be crucial.
• Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez: Key contributors to the Dodgers’ recent success.

Game Outlook

When Yankees and Dodgers face, the expectations of the shooters are high. The series, which both teams have a staff full of stars, is expected to be interesting. While the Yankees are currently on a winning streak, the Dodgers are focused on continuing to grow. Opening results will largely depend on the performances of Soto, Ohtani, Yamamoto and Poteet.

Fans should anticipate a fiercely competitive game as these long-standing MLB teams face off in one of the most anticipated games of the season. This MLB series promises to bring plenty of thrills, outstanding displays, and lasting memories.